Dancing like a warrior

A dance act depicting the life of the warrior Karna is ready to enthrall Delhiites.

Dance performances based on Indian mythological characters always evoke interest, as they not only showcase unique moves, but tell interesting stories as well. Similarly, a dance act on Karna, the famous character from the Mahabharata, will be aiming to tell a captivating tale to people in the Capital.

Karna: A Ballet in Mayurbhanj Chhau, which is going to be held at Kamani auditorium on January 24, will depict a story revolving around the titular character’s life. Organised by the Sanjivini Society for Mental Health, the performance will highlight how Karna overcame hurdles in his life to emerge as a respected warrior in the epic fable. “Karna had a very complicated life and he had to face and combat a lot of problems. He wanted to find his own identity, and in the end, he was able to define himself and emerge a winner,” says Anindita Paul, director at Sanjivini. “What Karna’s story tells us is that problems might happen in life, but it is up to us to take a stand and tackle them,” she adds.

The dance act will be followed by an interactive session with the Sanjivini team. The free-for-all passes for the show are available at Sanjivini’s institute in Defence Colony and Qutub Institutional Area.

Other performances in the Capital

Kathak Through The AgesThe performance is a journey of Kathak from the temples to royal courts of Rajasthan and the magnificent Mughals till today. The performance is directed by Asavari Pawar, who has inherited a love for this art form from her father, Pratap Pawar, a leading exponent of the Lucknow gharana of Kathak. When: January 23; Where: Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre; Timings: 7 pm

The Soul CagesThe performance is an artistic experience that captures the cycles of life and death as a journey, rather than an end in itself. The presentation is structured on the imagery and narrative of a story, told through the fluid grace of the classical Indian dance form of Bharathanatyam. When: January 28; Where: Kamani Auditorium, Copernicus Marg; Timings: 7pm

A Story And A SongInspired by Kannada folklore, Native American stories and narratives from contemporary women, A Story And A Song is a metaphorical dance tale of women, environment and sensuality. With an interactive dialogue, the tale is about women, environment and love. When: January 30; Where: India International Centre, Lodhi Road, Max Mueller Marg; Timings: 6.30pm